beisel



April 19, 1927. 1,625,518

W; J. BEISEL SPRING WHEEL Filed Dec. 27. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheetl April 19, 1927. 1,625,518

w. J. BEISEL.

SPRING WHEEL Filed Dec. 1922 s Sheets-Sheetz V f M 4a 6111-01 we L A l il -19, 1927.

w. J. BEISEL SPRING WHEEL Filed Dec. 19,22 5 Sheets-$heet s "WIILLIAM JAE-013 BEESEL, OF IGOR-'1 RI fi s'snrn'e wnnnn conronerrron on n YORK.

iszssi SYRING Application filed December 53%, 1522.

This invention relates to spring Wheels adapted for use on vehicles ()lli various lrinils. ll t embodies certain novel Ff'l'FUCtlll'll itQll'UlOS and combinations of parts which. were intended to produce and which have been found in actual use to be adapted to produce a spring wheel tree trom many of the dcl ects and, objectionable features and cliaracteristics of the various types of spring wheels heretofore produced and which has many very great advantages over such prior spring: wheels. It makes possible a spring wheel tor any type ol? vehicle whether ligrht like some pleasure vehicles or heavy like a truck adapted to carry heavy loads in which the center line of thehub will be maintained sul'istantially concentric. with the telloe or rim at all times under normal load but which will yield amply to avoid shock on suddenun ward movement of the felloe as in moving over an obstruction in the roadway thus avoiding sudden strains on the axle and other parts of the vehicle and contriluiting to the ooi'nlort of those riding"; in the vehicle. it not only maintains the hub and its axle normally cmicentric with the rim instead of sagging down below the center. thus saving; greatly in the motive power nec ssary in propelling the vehicle but when used on the rear drive wheels of a vehicle it avoids shock and resulting injury to the drive mechanism of the vehicle and slippage ot the wheels on the roadbed since the springs will yield and permit slie'ht relative turnimif between the a izle and telloe resulting in shock absorption. l t will absorb the i'naxinuini torque ot the enn'ine when suddenly applied temporarily and. then apply the stored power to turn the wheel on the roadbed without increasing; the torque on the engine suddenly. This also tends to prevent slipping of the clutch in starting or melting connection. The sanln'iru oi" the hub or axle below the center of the wheel is a very serious matter since the 0 Feet on the motor is like that of continually pulling up a rather steep hill but it. has l'ieen Found impossible heretofore to avoid it while securing: anything lilac the desired resiliency in the wheel The above noted nwrel features and. advzuitacjes oi the present ii'ivention are due lv to a novel lonnitudinal shape or deor" the sprint: spoke-, a novel rim strum lure and clai'npinr; means-s lor iv r-zidly con- Serial No. 609,298.

necting the outer ends of the spokes thereto and novel sln'ucturol arrongenfient for securing the er ends to the hub. The particular lon; ulllllllill term or curvature of the spokes viewed from the sine is illustrated in l igure 1. For convenience of reference this form of spoke will be referred to as sichle shape or as a sickle spoke. l have found that this form ofspring spoke will yield as "freely, accurately and satisfactorily when under the special strains to which it is subjected when occiu nyinp; a horizontal or nearly horizonta position as when it is vertical and subjected to vertical strains and this causes what may be called :1 continuous low oil fie :i.bility in all the spokes when in use This is believed to be new.

Another novel and very useful and adantagreous feature oi the invention consists in the structure of the felloe and the cooperating means for secrnrinp; the outer ends of the spokes to it which makes the felloe exceedinizly stronp: and rigid lay the use of a minimum amount ol material and which cooperates with the clan'iping means rigidly connected to it to entirely enclose and tightly clamp the spokes with an interlock from their outer ends to a po nt :1 material dis: tnnce therefrom where they bend inwardly thus i exiting the slightest relative movement 0? the outer ends of the spokes with reference to the telloe, either lateral or longitudinal. Still another very important structural. combination included in the invention resides in the menus by which the radial inner end portions 01 the spokes are connected to the huh and rip idlv engaged and held along: their edges from their inner end outward for a n'iaterial. distance prevent inn any possible n'ioveinont with reference to the hub either radial, periplieral or lateral. The complete wheel embodying the hub. spokes and 'lelloe includes no loose parts or any likely to hecon'ie loose from use and in cludes no relatively moving surfaces in contact an d. thus it is tree 't'rou'i the rattling}; and souealrinn' noise under the strains of use which are common with, most spring wheels. The form of the spokes their long}; rigid surface contact connection with the hub and ielloe and the peculiarly strong construction oi? the 'l elloe serve to make the wheel not onlv very strong and lasting; but enable it to witl stand without injury or appreciable lateral yielding the side strains, such for instance as those which are produced by a transversely inclined road bed, particularly under heavy loads. The novel features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings- Fig. l is a side view, partly in section, of a wheel embodyingn'iy invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking to the left, this figure showing a skid chain which does not appear in Figure I;

Fig. 3 is a similar vertical section showing-a modified arrangement of someo't the parts;

Fig. l is a. detached plan view of one of the caps for the outer ends of the spokes including hooks for tire chains;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a similar cap not having the hoops;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a part oi the "felloe and the end oi a spoke and its clamp assembled,

Fig. 7. is a side view oi one of the disks used onthe hub to engage the edges oi the spokes; and

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the end of the drive axle showing its key connection to the hub cap.

The embodiment of theinvention shown for the purpose of illustration consists in a rear drive wheelisuch as are used on heavy trucks although. as heretofore stated it is applicable to various kindsof wheels. The it'elloe of the wheel consists of a continuous cylindrical ring 10 shownas sufficiently wide to receive on itsouter surface two rims 11. and 12carrv1ngthe rubber tires 13 and 14. Closely fitting the inner surface of the felloe 10 are continuous rings 15 and 16 which are L-shaped in cross section with one flange of each extending radially inward atone edge of the-tell.oe..its outer suri ace being in the same radial plane the edge of the telloe. The inner edges oi the flanges of these L-shaped rings which tit the inner surface oi the tclloe are spaced apart a distance equalto' the width of the spring spokes which will be described sothat there is what may be called a groove 68 centrally arranged on the inner face oi the felloe adapted to receive the spoke. These L- shaped rings are preterablv assembled. with the tt'elloe under tension so that the joint willbe tight.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 6. the spokes 17 consist of strong metal strips of uniform width and thickness which are longitudinally curved to have outer end portions 18 closely fitting. the inner face of the ielloe 10 in the groove 68 i ornied between the edges of the-rings15 and 16 but the thickness oi the spoke is greater than is the depth oi this groove and thus the inner portion of the spoke projects inwardly iron: the surface oi the flanges oi? rings 15 and 16. The end portion 18 oil each spoke has iorn'icd ironi it con'iparatirely small radial j'nojections l9 and 20. spaced ltuigitud'inally arouiui the wheel and ()lil sliggditl conical form produced by punchi the metal forming opposite (lOpTQSSlOfiS and The iiclloe it) h s 33 correct. )1 ing to the projections ll) on the spoke ends and these projections lit in these dej'n' ions when the parts are assem bled as s iown in Figs. 1 and (3. A damping cap 524: which is somewhat wider than the spoke end has an outer i ace longitudinally curved conccntrically ot' the wheel and having in it a longitudinal groove similarly curved, the width oi this groove being such as to closely lit the sides oi the inwardl projecting part oi the portion 18 oi? the spoke but its dcpth being slightly less than the distance the portion 18 projects inwardly beyond the surfaces oi. the flanges of ring. and if so that the bottom oi? the "oovc ma; niakc clauu'iing contact with the spoke end when pressed outward. Each cap 524: has a socket. or depression 2b which is conical in term and in which the inward projection 20 on the spoke out. iits. Jliil the corners of each rap 524- there are rounded projections 27 which have radial openings through them tor bolts andin the term shown in Fig. i the caps 2%? are provided on opposite sides with tapering l'zool-ts 28 each oi which projects outwardly and is curved in towards the center of the wheel.- and'then ba k towards the cap and its free end is so near the line of the opening through the corner projection that a nut on a bolt in that opening will prevent the accidental disengragcmcnt ot a tire chain 29 engaged by that hook. in asecn'ibling a wheel some caps without hooks as shown in Ficfinrc 5, liiilli" be employed ii desired.

Four screw threaded bolts 30 pass through and are rigidlv connected to the ielloe it) at their outer ends and then thr nin'h the flanges of the rings 15 and if and 'hrongh the corner openings on the cap or Fa l. and nuts 31 provided with lock washers engage the screw threaded inner ends of these bolts and the outer "face ot' the cap and clamp the cap and spoke end rigidlv to the telloe. It will be noted that the caps 24 and 24 e);- tend substantially throughout the length of the end portion 18 of the spolzc which tits the i elloe and since that portion is oi mate ial length. the clamping action will make a Yer rigid connection with practically no DQFcEl bilitv oi the development or looseness because of the comparatively lone: lcvc a n the joint resisting relative lltllfllnfi' movement.

The hub 33 is hollow and has a cylindrical conical openings or depressions ion lit?

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rename outer surface 69 and an integral radial flange 34 near one end. This hub is mounted on roller bearings 35 and 36 which in turn are mounted on the outer end portion 37 of the axle housing so that the wheel may turn on that. lixed support. A lock nut 38 on the outer end of the portion 3"? beyond roller bearing 35 serves to hold the roller bearings and the hub on member 37 and it used to adjust the hearings and it includes the locking bolt 39 and cap screw 40 to lock the lock washer 41 in position after it. is adjusted as is well known in the art. A, brake druni lil surrounds the inner end portion of the hub and its inturned end wall l3 fits the inner face of the integral flange 3st and its inner edge may fit a shoulder t l near the inner or base portion of flange 3%.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that each spoke has an inner end portion 41-5 at the hub in a radial plane and this portion is provided with rectangular notches as and 47 between its ends on opposite sides. The means for securing these inner end portions of thespokes to the hub include a short cylindrical member 48 slidable on the hub 33 from its outer end towards the integral flange 34: and having at its inner edge the integral radial flange 49. A thin circular disk 50 having a central opening slidably fitting on the outer surface of the hub is moved inwardly from the end until itlies close against the inner face of the end wall of the brake drum and it has a diameter equal. to that of flange 49 and its purpose is to space the edges of the spokes from the end wall of the brake drum so as to prevent the outer portions of the spokes from making contact with the brake drum in use and when bending. A pair of circular disks one of which is shown in Fig. 7 are used. at the edges of the inner end portions of the spokes to hold them in place onthe hub between flanges 34. and 4:9. These disks are identical and have bolt holes and a central opening 71 which adapts them to slidably fit on the hub to move to position and have radial slots extending from the inner and outer edges in aligned pairs 52 and 53, leaving a solid portion 54: of the disk between their adjacent ends. These slots have a width equal to the thickness of the spokes and the solid connecting part 54 is of such size as to closely lit in the notches 4-6 and 47 in the sides of the inner end portions of the spokes. One of these disks tits against the spacer disk 50 with the inner edges of the spokes in its radial slots and its portions 5st in the notches in the spokes. The other disk lies against the inner face of flange ll) and sin'iilarly en gages the outer edges of the spokes. A plurality of bolts pass through integral flange 34, the inner wall l3 of the brake drum, spacer disk 50 and the two disks 51 and through liange 49 on the cylindrical porit will he senv that the inner ends of the spokes are rigidly connected. together and to the hub along their edge portions from the hub outwardly to the margin of the flanges 34: and 49.

The cylindrical member 418 has at its outer end a peri ihcral. flange 58 and there is a cap 59 having a peripheral flange 60 fitting said flange 58 and. secured to it by bolts 61. This cap 59 encloses the outer end of the axle and at its central portion 62 has a key 72 for relatively engaging the end of the drive axle 63 which extends through the housing 37 and is driven from the usual. differential as is well known in the art.

is heretofore stated the longitudinal curature or form of the spring spoke constitotes a very inn mrtant element in the present invention. As will he seen by reference to Fig. 1, each spoke has an inner end portion which is on a radial plane through the center of the hub and rncst of this radial portion is clainpul securely at the hub as indicated above but a short. distance 0utwardly from the outer edge of the flanges 34L and at it the spoke curves laterally of the radial plane substantially on the arc of a circle hm'ing a coin iuu'atively sin-all radius to the points 6.3. where it commences to curve in. the opposite direction on the arc of a circle for the inner concave face which has subs; intially the same radius as that of the COHYQX surface betwern (it and 5 and at the point (hl the reverse curve is continued but on a re y much greater radius until the point G? is rearhed near the inner surface of the fclloe. it this point there is a short curve on a short radius conl'iecting the section between. ('36 and 67 to the end portion 18 heretofore described which lits the felloe. It wi ll be noted that there are twelve spokes in the wheel shown and that a radial plane through the inner radial end of one spoke will pass through the outer end portion 18 of an a Bent spoke and that the outer curved portion between (36 and 67 is at only a slight angle to radial. planes and extents throughout about 30 around the circumference. I have found that this particular sickle shaped spoke has very decided advantages over any previously used form of spring spoke, although it resembles somewhat in appearance the scythe form of spoke covered by prior patents granted to lllC.

When the spokes are brought into substantially the longitudinal shape shown and they are properly tenig'icrcd by heat treatment" the (HE attire is such that the outer st. :facc o l the end portion 18 which fits the felloe is at a slightl greater distance from the inner end of the radial portion at the hub than it is when assembled in the wheel so that the spokes when assembled in the wheel will be under a prodetermineddegree of tension tending to expand longitudinally. This aids in maintaining the hub at the center oit the wheel. in use. It will, oil course, be understood that the spokes n'iay be of any desired thickness, width or length to suit special conditions and that. the invention is not limited to the use of a single layer in each spoke.

As hcretol'ore Slated, a spoke oi. this term when properly desigiied tor the load to be carried will n'iaintaii'i the hub substantially eoncenric with the :tclloe at all times under normal load but under sudden upward movement of the itelloe will yield suthciently to give that res liency desired to the wheel.

It will, of con l .se, be unuestood that the invention is not lanited to the particiiilar structural arrangement shown and. described beyond what is called for in the clain'is. For instance, the Lshaped rings and l6 may be welded to or formed integral with the lelloe band 10 if desired, as shown in Fig. 3. One of the di 2 for engaging the edges of the ends of the spokes at the hub may be made integral with flange 49 on the short cylindrical portion 48' which, of course, means that the inner face ot that flange would have a series 0t grooves in i: xii-responding in size and depth to the width of the slots in the disk and the thickness of the disk and this also is illustrated in Fig. 3. The other disk 51 may be made integral with the spacer disk'FiO, and with the inner portion of the end wall 43 ot the brake (train 42, as shown in Fig. 8.

Having thus described the invention, what claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. A. spring wheel comprising in con'ibination, a hub, a metal telloe, a plurality of sickle shaped spring spokes having radial inner ends secured to the hub and outer ends extending along the inner taco of said 'l elloe, the said inner face having a central groove like radial depression in which the outer en ds ot the spokes lit longitudinally and ca s extending across said. ends iolted to the lelloe, thus rigidly clamping the outer spoke ends to th. tt'elloe.

2. A spring wheel comprising in combination, a hub, a metal telloe, a ij lurality of sickle shaped spring spokes having radial inner ends secured. to ll a hub and outer ends extending along the inner "face of said telloe, the said inner face having a central groove like radial depression in which the outer ends of the spokes lit longitudiinilly and caps extending across said ends holte, to the telloo on both sides of said ends thus rigidly clamping the outer spoke ends to the 'l elloe, the radial contact surfaces of said end, cap

1,625; are

and fence having corresponding interlocking radial depressions and elevations;

A spring wheel coniprisingin J011'lblI1tttion, a hub, a metal iltelloc, a plurality of sickle shaped spring. spokes having radial tightly fitting. in said ttelloe band from its.

inward, providing radial inwardly extending flanges at the edges of the folloe band and a central channel or groove between the adjacent edges of the flanges which lit the inner surface of the band, a plurality of sickle shaped springspokeshaving radial inner ends secured to the hub, and

outer end port-ions fitting closely in said channel or groove and the inner surface of said felloe banch a cap for clamping each of said end portions in place extending. across and along it and bolts having. lock nuts connected to said felloe extending through said caps at the sides of said spoke end for rigidly holding said caps in place.

5. A spring wheelcomprising in co1nbination, a hub, a metal. felloe in the "form of acontinuous cylindrical band of substantially uniform thickness, rings Lshaped in section tightly fitting in said felloe band from its edges inwarch providing radialv inwardly extending flanges at the edges of the felloe band and a central channel or groove between the adjacent edges of? the flanges which lit the inner surface of the band, a plurality of sickle shaped spring spokes having radial inner ends secured to the hub, and outer end portions having athickncss greater than the depth o't said. groove, and fitting closely in it against the inner surface of the 'lclloe band, a cap for each 0t said end portions having a groove or recess on its under side in which the projecting part of said end portion fits, the contacting portions of said cap, spoke end, and tello-e band having corresponding interlocking depressions and elevations between their margins and bolts having lock nuts connecting said cap and telloe at the sides of the spring end thus rigidly connecting the spoke end to the telloe.

6. A spring wheel coniprising in combination, a hub, a inetal'l'clloe having a groovelike depression of uniform width and depth centrally on its inner side, a plurality of longitudinally curved spring spokes secured to the hub at their inner ends and having outer end portions closely fitting in said depression and against the inner surface of the telloe for a material distance longitudinally their thickness being greater than the depth of said groove-1i e depression, caps for, securing said end portions to the felloe of approximately the same length as said portions but Wider, having longitudinal grooves fitting said end portions radially and laterally, laterally extended perforated lugs at the corners of said caps, screw threaded bolts secured to said telloe and passing through said perforated lugs, lock nuts on said bolts bearing on said lugs tor clamping the caps, spoke ends and telloe rigidly together. v

t. A spring Wheel comprislng 1n combination a hole, a metal l elloe having a groovelike depression of uniform Width and depth centrally on its inner side, and inwardly extending marginal flanges, a-- plurality of longitudinally curved spring spokes secured to the huh at their inner ends and having outer end portions closely fitting in said depression and against the inner surface of the telloe for a material distance longitudinally their thickness being greater than the depth of said groove-like depression,

caps for securing said end portions to the felloe of approximately the same length as said portions but Wider having longitudinal grooves fitting said end portions radially and laterally, laterally extended perforated lugs at the corners of said caps, screw threaded bolts secured to said telloe and passing through said perforated lugs, lock nuts on said bolts hearing on said lugs for clamping the caps, spoke ends and felloe rigidly together.

8. A spring Wheel comprising in combination, a hub, a metal felloe, a plurality of longitudinally curved spring spokes secured to the hub at their inner ends and having outer end portions extending along and closely fitting the central portion oi the innor surface of said felloe provided with longitudinally spaced integral projections, one extending outwardly and one inwardly on each spoke and means including caps c0- operating With said felloe laterally and radially enclosing and closely fitting said end portions rigidly connecting them to the telloe, the said ielloe and caps having depressions in which the projections on said end portion fit.

In testimony whereof I hereunto al'lix my signature.

WILLIAM JAKOB BEISEL. 

